Losing RAM ??

[TheOne]

I noticed the same problem before, but never bothered with it....

but i currently have 2 512MB sticks of RAM on my desktop PC which should give me about 1024Mb (1Gb) of RAM, right? But when i right click on my computer and click on properties, it only shows up as 960Mb of RAM

Is this right? or is there something wrong? and how can i change it?



Thanks

[Axegrinder]

You have onboard graphics so its it using 64mb of your ram as video memory.

[Eric55]

64mb onboard graphics card.

[TheOne]

ahhh i see, thanks for the replies.

---------- Post added at 23:59 ---------- Previous post was at 23:49 ----------

I'm thinking of getting a fairly basic graphics card as i do abit of photo/video editing/recording these days on the PC, which it struggles with most of the time
Cant afford to buy a new PC, so just trying to do a few upgrades to it myself.

What kind of graphics card would be best for my PC? my PC specs are.....

Operating System
Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 (build 2600)

System Model
Packard Bell NEC Packard Bell Computer PB13316901
System Serial Number: 047383020440
Chassis Serial Number: 50424E
Enclosure Type: Desktop

Processor
2.93 gigahertz Intel Celeron
16 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache

Main Circuit Board
Board: NEC COMPUTERS INTERNATIONAL P5S800-VM Rev 1.xx
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 0160 05/12/2005

Memory Modules
960 Megabytes Installed Memory

Slot 'DIMM0' has 512 MB
Slot 'DIMM1' has 512 MB

Controllers
Primary IDE Channel [Controller]
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller]
SiS PCI IDE Controller

Display
SiS 651_661FX_741_760_760GX_M661FX_M661MX_M741_M760_M7 60GX [Display adapter]
Default Monitor

Multimedia
Realtek AC'97 Audio

Any help is much appreciated


Thanks

[CHiLL]

Is it an AGP or PCI-E expansion slot on the motherboard?

You could upgrade that RAM from 1GB to 2 or 3GB, you'd notice a significant increase in performance.

As for the graphics, I'd go for a cheap 128/256MB Nvidia card. Can't go wrong.

[mischievious]

Since the BUS clock speed is 133Mhz I would be astounded if it were PCI-E

Most likely this box is AGP and if your are reeeally unlucky PCI only.

I agree with the Nvidia remarks, for me ATI have often released superior hardware but then mess it all up with crap drivers and support and loooong periods of time between updates that are not attributed because it all just works.

[TheOne]

Originally Posted by CHiLL

Is it an AGP or PCI-E expansion slot on the motherboard?

You could upgrade that RAM from 1GB to 2 or 3GB, you'd notice a significant increase in performance.

As for the graphics, I'd go for a cheap 128/256MB Nvidia card. Can't go wrong.

How do i know if my motherboard has a AGP, PCI or PCI-E slot ?

My PC can only take a max of 2GB and i have only just bought a 512Mb to bring the total to 1GB

Would you recommend any good reputable retailers for graphics cards? I've seen some on Play.com graphics cards for around £25, £30 is the max budget

---------- Post added at 12:01 ---------- Previous post was at 10:56 ----------

Here's a pic if it helps

[CHiLL]

That's an AGP slot.

I'd personally go for one of these:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/60575

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...=56&subcat=411

[TheOne]

Originally Posted by CHiLL

That's an AGP slot.

I'd personally go for one of these:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/60575

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...=56&subcat=411

I think ive found the one on overclockers cheaper on Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/PNY-GeForce-...724099&sr=1-17

so all these cards will work fine given my PC spec in the 4th post of this thread ???

[CHiLL]

I can't imagine why not.

The card I linked and the card you linked are the same card, they've just been tweaked a little by two different companies. (PNY and OcUk)

If I were you, I'd upgrade the RAM to 2GB too. Maybe get 1x 2GB stick, or 2x 1GB sticks. It makes a hell of a difference.

[TheOne]

So upping the RAM to 2Gb and a graphics card should be adequate ?

[MovedGoalPosts]

I know you are on a limited budget, and can't afford a new computer. Based on the specs of your current machine, I'd seriously question whether you should be spending anything on it.

Assuming that this is your motherboard http://www.nec-computers.co.uk/suppo...lt&source=1409, you are limited to 2GB of RAM, in 2 x 1 GB units. That means you'll have to ditch the RAM you have to upgrade. More RAM will provide a mild tweak in speed, but only when you really do start to manipulate some bigger things. However at that point the limited potency of the CPU (Celeron processor) will remain a significant bottleneck, even with a graphics card added. And the point is that, because the PC base spec is now quite old, you're effectively paying over the odds to buy older compatible kit that is sitting on a shelf somewhere.

[mischievious]

I agree it'll probably cost more in the long run to upgrade.

The real rub of it is that if you do upgrade and find you haven't achieved the goal, you are then unable to simply continue the upgrade until you do. The best you can hope for is the the best of the older hardware that your system can cope with.... Unfortunately new computers use new Hardware and simply will not be compatible with anything barr pci expansion boards from your old system.

Eventually you will be forced to upgrade your machine.

[TheOne]

Yeah, valid points there, thats got me thinking now...hmmmm.lol

[damien c]

me and my dad upgraded a guys pc and this is what we got for him but he had a few things that we could use from his old pc

Mobo

Ram x2

Cpu or you could use your's that you have now iirc

we had to get a new psu for him but the lot came to around £140 obviously there might, be better options but for him it was fine he doesnt game or anything but he likes it for, what he does and really without going to expensive it wasn't bad and all you would need to add to it is either agp or pci-e graphics and a psu.